Dental marking device



May 24, 1927.. 1,629,861

.1 M. CRAIGO DENTAL MA KING DEVICE Filed Jan. 21. 1927 Patented May 24, 19 27.

JOHN M. CRAIGO, 0F HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

DENTAL MARKING DEVICE,

Application filed January 21, 1927. Serial N6. 162,610.

In the art of dentistry, it is and has been the practice, in making and fitting the clasp of a bridge to a tooth, to make a plaster cast of the tooth to which the clasp is to be applied and then survey, so to speak, the cast tooth by marking thereon the high spots. After the high spots are marked, a wax film or layer is encircled about the tooth, and this layer is cut out so as toleave an irregular ring having the same configuration as the line of high spots. This wax ring is then removed and employed in casting a gold or metal clasp. Heretoforc, in marking the high spots on the tooth, a stick or bar of carbon was employed. A bar of carbon, as a marking device, is open to a large number of objections, among which may be mentioned the following :-First, the operating edge or face of the carbon member becomes quickly worn resulting in inaccuracies in marking the high spots and requiring considerable time in re-sharpening or re-facing the carbon member; second, considerable difficulty is experienced in maintaining the marking edge or face of the carbon member normal to the surface over which the tooth is moved during the surveying operation; third, the difliculty, and sometimes the impossibility, of marking the sides of a tooth because of closely adjacent teeth, it being necessary for the carbon member to be of substantial width so that it will stand up in use; and, fourth, the mutilation or marring of the cast tooth by the carbon member.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved marking device for use in surveying teeth, the marking device being free of. the above and other objections noted incident to the use of the carbon memher.

A more particular aim of the invention is to provide an improved marking device which will stand up indefinitely, which is very effective in operation, which is relatively free from wear, which is relatively thin so that it may be inserted between closely adjacent teeth, which is relat vely soft or resilient so that it will not mar the cast tooth as it rubs tliereagainst, and which is very simple and economical.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of eleform of a piece be provided for ments and arrangement of parts which will be exemphfied in the construction hereinafterset forth and the scope of the applica-' tion of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown, for illustrative purposes, one embodiment which the present invention may take Figure 1 is a view showing, more or less diagrammatically, a surveying. device in which my improved marker is incorporated;

Fig. 2 is an edgeview ofthe marker, this View being on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, also on an enlarged scale, and taken on substantially line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it is understood that my improved marking device may be employed in connection with any suitable instrument for surveying teeth, that shown in the drawings being disclosed by way of exemplification only: This instrument includes a base A having a fiat upper surface over which is adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane a support B on which is mounted the plaster cast C, the teeth of which are to be surveyed. D is an overhanging standard arising from the base and carrying a vertical post E to which my lmproved marking device is secured. This post may have vertical adjustment in the standard, as is customary.

Referring more specifically to my improved marking device, the same is provided with a relatively thin blade or tang 10, a marking fabric 11 applied to the tang, and suitable means for holding the marking fabric in place. this means, in the present instance, being illustrated as having the form of a spring finger or clip 12. The tang 10 may be very cheaply formed of steel and, by preference, this tang is very thin so that it, together with the marking fabric carried thereby, may be inserted between closely adjacent teeth. The fabric 11 may be in the of silk cloth impregnated with a marking material, such as ink. This marking member may be applied to the tang in any suitable manner, it being shown as being wrapped about the lower end of the tang. Obviously, any suitable means may securing the marking fabric in place and, as stated, the spring finger 12 is shown by way of illustration only. This finger may be secured to the tang by a rivet 1 3. The tang may have an integral shank 14 secured to the post or stem E by a screw F.

It will be understood that, in use, the marking device is secured to the stem E, and the cast C is positioned upon the support B. This support is then moved upon the Hat surface of the base A. so as to bring successive portions of the periphery of the tooth to be marked into engagement With the marking fabric 11. In Fig. 1, the edge of the marking device is shown as engaging the front face of the tooth. .Vhen the side faces of the tooth are to be marked, the flat surface of the marking device may be employed, as in this position the marking de vice can be inserted between adjacent teeth.

It Will be observed that my improved marking device is Very simple in construc tion and can be economically made. The marking edge or faces of the marker are always maintained perpendicular to the top surface of the base A, thus insuring; correctness in the surveying operation. The marking device, being relatively resilient and flexible, will not mar or mutilate the cast tooth, and Wear of the marking device to the extent that improper surveying results is avoided. The marking fabric may be renewed When ever necessary.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention could be made Without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is i11- tended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebctn'ecn.

I claim as my invention:

1. A marking device for surveying teeth including a. thin blade, and a nnirking fabric attached thereto.

2. A marking device for surveying teeth including a relatively thin blade. a marking fabric Wrapped about said blade, and means for securing said fabric in place.

3. A marking device for surveying teeth including a relatively thin, narrow blade,.a marking fabric folded about said blade. and means for removably securing said fabric in place.

a. A marking device for surveying teeth including a relatively thin blade, an ink impregnated ribbon folded about said blade, and means for securing said ribbon in place.

JOHN M. GRAIGO. 

